Rafael woke up in a small white room, his feet and hands chained. He felt soar and all he could remember was fainting on a man's shoulder. Afraid he would fall and die. After he got used to the bright light, he saw a man sitted at the corner, opposite his bed . He was looking intently at him as if reading his mind and when their eyes met he smiled coldly.
"The doctor was right, you woke up exactly in twenty minutes."Adrian said standing up and walked towards him.
"You fainted for an eternity but the doctor said you're under a lot of mental stress. You were advised to start therapy sessions before you're fully unstable. It's been two weeks now . You had started to be termed as a harm to self but you were sedated by a very strong drug to help your nerves calm down and for your brain to get back to its normal functioning. I'll call boss now that you're awake. "the tall man told him and walked out not giving Rafael a chance to speak or enquire.
When the door opened, the air turned chilly and cold. I was afraid of the other man, but this one is so scary. Does he even smile or show any emotion? Rafael wondered. The man walked to him and pulled the chair near the bed and straddling it.
"Let's talk like men." he said. "What happened between you and your wife? And before you think of not answering my question you should know that I know you're behind the attempted assassination in Tim Horton Hotel. I know you understand what I mean." he said giving a threat so casually.
Rafael swallowed his ego and spoke mustering his courage as a man, but he had none left.
"I wronged her. So bad by cheating on her with my colleague. I became hostile and I unknowingly pushed her away."
"Good. This talk is over. I'll fly you back to France tonight." he said standing up to leave but was stopped by Rafael's timid voice.
"Can you help me by renting a house for me. Just for a year. Right now, I have nothing with me. I used all my savings trying to save my collapsing company, " he said trying his best to maintain their eye contact. Seeing the cold eyes become even colder he added politely, "please"
"I'll see what I can do" the man answered him and left. On his hand he had a small pen recorder, and he kept replaying the conversation and every time he wondered how he had been so careless to lose such a woman. She was quite an asset. He laughed at him and at last concluded that no man deserved such an angel. However, he also concluded that he was no man but a powerful CEO who needed such a woman by his side. He was driven to the hospital where he was greeted by a pleasant confusing scene.
The nurse looking after Kyler was speaking to her using sign language and she was actually responding. Keeping a cool face, he wondered, has she lost her sense of speech? Adrian unable to hold his curiosity asked,
"Is she dumb?"
"No. She spoke to me using sign language after I inserted the food pipe to her gut. She was asking me if her purse was still around. I am glad she woke up with a clear mind. She won't have to go through hypnosis to bring back her memories but only to help her relax from time to time especially now that her skin may be itchy at times. Being awake has its own ups but it's better than being in a coma right?" the nurse asked after explaining her state to the two men.
"So is she getting discharged today?" Adrian asked the question burning his boss, unknowingly.
"Maybe tomorrow. That is if her vitals would improve overnight, and she becomes stable." the nurse asked smiling brightly at Adrian. She is friendly than most. Adrian observed.
"Okay, Thank you."
The nurse turned to Kyler again and pulled out the tube from her throat. She was already sleepy and before she could even feel the pain of her drip being inserted at her wrist, she slept. Adrian and his boss stood at her bedside. Admiring her beauty and had totally forgotten of the flower bouquet on Adrian's hands. Suddenly, the boss grabbed them from his hands and put them softly on her bedside table and they left.
Outside the room he asked, "Did Tommy get discharged?"
"Yes sir, today at noon." Adrian answered.
"I need my guest room near my room to be renovated and given a feminine touch. She is going to stay in my house. Fill the wardrobes with new clothes. All designer clothes from all sizes and colors. Put new clean towels in the bathroom and disinfect the sinks and tub just like mine. Put all kinds of lotions, perfumes and makeup. Everything a woman can need."
Adrian's mouth was hanging open. Since when did he know so much about caring? He certainly didn't like this side if his boss. It was giving him chills. He better go back to his cold self. please God,,please he prayed. He drove his boss to his glass mansion and went to do his errands as the boss rested for the day. He had a lot to do by morning. He was enthusiastic because Tommy would join him again tomorrow and he would be able to rest. Finally.
* * *
Immediately the cold threatening man left, Rafaels hands were released from the cuffs and was helped to sit by another rough man. Is everyone like this around here? he wondered. The man didn't speak a word to him. He left and came back with a tray of food and kept it on the table. Rafael was famished and waiting for a signal to eat and got none, he helped himself. Hardly had he finished, when the man took his shoes from a bag and threw them at his feet.
He wore the shoes and looked at him and for once the man spoke to him, at least with actions ushering him to follow him. Rafael stood up and walked behind the man along the long hallways. They ascended two stairs and emerged at the top of a building. A helicopter, different from the one that took him was roaring ,making them to be hit by large amounts of cold air. The propellers were gaining speed, and the man leading Rafael actually spoke to him.
"Run. That pilot waits for no man." and just like that he left. Rafael followed his advice and was lucky to get into the rising helicopter without a lot of struggles and injury. He sat there thinking about a lot of things and wished that the man had done him the favor of a house. Jane was the least of his problems then. He wished it was a place far from Lyon. All he wished was to start again and be free from his stressful gambling partners and the debts he owed them.
But his documents and cards were at his house. Before he knew it, the helicopter landed on a heli pad and a black Mercides waited for him. The driver had been told to handle the house issue, and he had a written agreement that the house was paid for a year only. Once the payment expired, he was to pay up or move out. hey both knew a year was a short time for a penniless, jobless CEO to earn enough for it.
However, that didn't bother him. He ceased this opportunity to go to his house in a personal vehicle and retrieve his credentials. The lucky stars were upon him. All was quiet as the case had been dropped. He was driven to his new house and was glad it was not a very expensive one. He couldn't afford luxury at the moment. He was also thankful that it was located in another city. Bordeaux.